New MRI-Compatible Pacemakers Designed with Automatic MRI Mode

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible pacing system has been designed with device settings that are automatically enabled, which allow for the safe operation during an MRI scan when pacemakers detect the scanner’s magnetic field. Similarly, the devices sense when a patient leaves the MRI field, and return to normal operation within five minutes.

Sorin Group (Milan, Italy), a global medical company focused on treatment of cardiovascular diseases, announced today CE marking approval and first implant of the KORA 100 pacing system. The Automatic MRI Mode feature, which is patented and available exclusively on Sorin Group pacemakers, limits the amount of time that KORA 100 pacemakers operate in MRI mode.


KORA 100 SR and DR pacemakers when implanted with the Sorin BEFLEX pacing lead enable implanted patients to undergo MRI scanning safely. Pacemaker patients are typically older than 65 years. This patient population is predisposed to other medical disorder such as arthritis, cancer or stroke that may require MRI examinations for optimal diagnosis and management.

Dr. Christian Wollmann, a cardiologist at Landesklinikum St. Pölten (Austria), implanted the first KORA 100 in a 79-year old man. Dr. Harald Mayr, head of the cardiology department at St. Pölten, commented, “The KORA 100 pacing system with the Automatic MRI Mode provides benefits to our patients, the cardiology practice, and to my colleagues in radiology. Because the pacemaker only operates in MRI mode during the actual MRI procedure, I can be more flexible in scheduling my pre-MRI visits. Since the pacemaker automatically switches back to the pre-programmed settings without further intervention, the radiologists can be confident about patient safety after the imaging procedure.”

The KORA 100 pacing system features Sorin Group technologies designed to help physicians manage common cardiovascular comorbidities such as atrial fibrillation sleep apnea, and heart failure. The SafeR pacing mode has been clinically shown to nearly eliminate deleterious left ventricular pacing, thereby reducing the risk of atrial fibrillation. The newly designed sleep apnea monitoring (SAM) function is a clinically proven, easy-to-use diagnostic algorithm designed to screen and monitor severe sleep apnea, a significant comorbidity associated with heart failure.

“The KORA 100 with Sorin’s proprietary SafeR algorithm, sleep apnea monitoring, and the patented Automatic MRI mode is the clear gold standard in pacing technology today. We are very proud to launch this latest innovative technology from Sorin Group,” said Stefano Di Lullo, Sorin Group, president CRM business unit.

Sorin Group develops, manufactures, and markets medical technologies for cardiac surgery and for the treatment of cardiac rhythm disorders. 

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